Gas-exhauster for oil-tanks.



0. J. HOLMES.

GAS EXHAUSTER FOR OIL TANKS. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 10, 1913.

Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 0. J. HOLMES.

GAS EXHAUSTER FOR OIL TANKS. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 10, I913.

1,1?3Jfi. Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

2 SHEETS--SHEET 2.

OSCAR J. HOLMES, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

GAS-EXHAUSTER FOR OIL-TANKS.

Specification or Letters Patent.

Patented Feh.223, italic.

Application filed November 10, 1913. Serial No. 800,173.

T 0 all whom 2 3777417] concern:

lie it known that I, Oscar: J. HOLMES, a citizen or" the United States, and resident of St. Louis, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Exhausters for Oil-Tanks, of which the following is a specification containing a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof. I

My invention relates to improvements in gas exhausters for oil tanks, and the object of my invention is to construct a means which will exhaust gas from oil tanks neXt adjacent the surface of the oil inthc tank, instead of employing vents at the top of the tank as is common. H

With the above purposes in view my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, pointed out in the claims and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows an elevation partly in section of an ordinary oil tank equipped with a gas exhausting means constructed according to my invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmental elevation showing a means for raising and lowering the intake port of the gas exhausting means; Fig. 3 is a detail sectional elevation of a pipe joint employed in my exhauster; Fig. 4 shows a modified form of my invention; and Fig.5 shows a second modified form of my invention.

Referring by numerals to the accompany ing drawings: 6 designates an oil tank which may he of any ordinary construction or type employed in the storage of crude oil or the like. Secured to the tank at or adjacent the bottom thereof is a pipe couplingmember 7 of the socket type, and leading from said coupling-member is a pipe 8 preterably having connected therewith a suction creating means 10 designates a. pipe coupling-member secured to the coupling-member 7 and connccted with a pipe 11.

At or adjacent the top of the tank are the direction pulleys 12 and on the outside of the tank near the bottom is a winding drum 13. Extended over the direction 5111- leys 12. secured to the pipe 11 adjacent its free end and to the drum 13 is a rope or cable 14. In the modified form shown in Fig. 4 there is a pipe 15 extended through an opening formed in the roof of the tank,

, hausting means such and telescoped within said 16 arranged for free longitudinal movements within the pipe 15.

17 designates direction pulleys arranged adjacent the top of the tank and 18 designates a drum arranged on the outside of the tank near the ground. l9 designates a rope or cable secured at its one end to a fastening device 20 carried by the lower end of the pipe 16, embracing the direction pulleys 17 and secured to the winding drum 18.

21 designates a pipe in communication with the upper end of the pipe 15 at its one end and leading to a suction creating means, such as 9 shown in Fig. 1.

In the modified form of apparatus shown m Fig. 5 there is a ball and socket pipe joint '22 in all particulars similar to the joint shown in detail in Fig. 3, and as employed in the structure shown in F ig. 1. This pipe coupling is secured to the tank adjacent its top, preferably above the oil level line of maximum altitude. In communication with. the ball and socket joint is a pipe :23 and lead ng from said joint is an exhaustpipe 2d dmg to a suction creating device, such as 9 sllOWn in Fig. 1. Arranged in the upper part of the tank are the directionpulleys 25 and on the outside of the tank adjacent the ground is a drum 26. Connected with the drum at its one end and extended over said pulleys to the pipe 23 is a rope or cable 27. In each of the forms of apparatus shown in the drawings a common object is sought, that is recognizing the specific weight of gas arising from stored oil to be heavier than air and hence lying on the surface oi. the oil pipe is a pipe \I provide a pipe and connected with the pipe a means in the form of a drum, and a or cable connected with the pipe for mamtaining the inlet end of the pipe at or about the surface of the oil in the region of the most dense gas.

The manipulative pipe in communication rope preferably with an eX- as a rotary fan, shown in Fig. 1, which fan will, when operated. draw the gas from the tank above the oil to a point removed from the tank in order toobviate the dangers incident to fires caused by the presence of gas in the proximity of the stored oil.

n a companion application filed Novemher 10, 1913, Serial'No. 800,174 I illustrate, describe and claim an apparatus for th just referred to is same purpose as the apparatus of this applieation, but in which there is an automatic means for maintaining the intake point of the gas exhausting apparatus at or about the surface of the oil.

I claim:

1. In a gas exhauster for oil tanks, a pipe .mounted for movement in an oil tank, a flexible element secured to the pipe for its movement, a winding mechanism for said flexihie element and a suction creating means connected with the pipe.

2 In combination with an oil tank, a gas E. L. WALLACE, N. G. BUTLER. 

